Vehicle lamp assemblies

ABSTRACT

A vehicle lamp assembly comprises a dished reflector in which is disposed a filament. The filament is disposed at an angle, preferably 30* to 45*, to a horizontal plane in which a principal axis of the reflector lies. The filament may lie with its axis perpendicularly disposed with respect to the principal axis. The lamp assembly may further include a parabolic mirror or lens spaced from the reflector and a mask between the reflector and the mirror or lens.

United States Patent Jones et al. Sept. 9, 1975 [54] VEHICLE LAMP ASSEMBLIES 21173489 3/1954 Critoph et a1, 240/413 x 3 3l7 772 5/1967 Lindae 313/113 [76] lnvemorsl Kenna James 11 Arago 3 553 519 1/1971 Hicks 240 4135 R Sutton Coldfield, 3569.693 3/1971 Lindae et a1 240/71 R x Warwickshire; Robert Arthur Hargroves, 52 Rowlands CrescenL warwickshlre both of Primary ExaminerRichard A. Wintercorn g Arlorney, Agent, or Firm-Waters, Schwartz & Nissen [22] Filed: May 28, 1974 [2|] Appl. N01: 474,104

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT May 29, 1973 United Kingdom 25438/73 i A vehicle lamp assembly comprises a dished reflector [52] U S CI g u 2 0 7 R; 2 0 240/4L35 R. in WhiCh iS diSpOSEBd a filament. The filament is dis 240/4601; 3 3/1 X I posed at an angle, preferably 30 to 45, to a horizon- [5 1 lnL 2 BGOQ 1/00; B600 3/00. B600 1 1/00; tal plane in which a principal axis of the reflector lies.

z 13/04 The filament may lie with its axis perpendicularly dis- [58] Field of Search H 240/7] R 4L3 4135 R, posed with respect to the principal axis The lamp as- 240/460]; 313/1 1 1- I I31 l [0 sembly may further include a parabolic mirror or lens spaced from the reflector and a mask between the re [56] References Cited flector and the mirror or lens.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,338,901 I/l944 Chiti 24U/4l.3 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures r IZ PATENTED SEP 9 75 FIGI.

FIGZ.

VEHICLE LAMP ASSEMBLIES This invention relates to vehicle lamp assemblies.

According to the present invention. there is provided a vehicle lamp assembly comprising a dished reflector. and an electric filament disposed in said dished reflector, said electric filament having an axis which extends transversely with respect to a principal axis of the refiector and which is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane in which the principal axis lies.

Preferably, the filament is inclined at an angle of between 30 and 45 inclusively. with respect to the said horizontal plane.

Most advantageously. the axis of the electric filament lies perpendicularly with respect to the principal axis of the reflector.

The vehicle lamp assembly may further include optical projection means arranged to receive and optically modify the pattern of light issuing, in use, from the dished reflector.

The electric filament may be a conventional metal filament or a quartzhalogen filament.

Conveniently. a mask is provided in front of the reflector to modify the pattern of light issuing, in use. from the reflector. The mask may be provided between the reflector and the optical projection means.

The optical projection means may be a lens or lenses, or it may be a curved reflector e.g., a parabolic mirror.

The inclination of the electric filament in the above described manner enables the image of the filament to be aimed, in use, along a roadside curb which improves the characteristics of the lamp assembly as far as the drivers visibility is concerned.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example. with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I. is a schematic view of a vehicle lamp assembly according to the present invention. and

FIG. 2. is a schematic front elevation view of a lamp reflector used in the lamp assembly of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing. the vehicle lamp assembly, which is for use as a vehicle headlamp of the dipped type, comprises generally a dished reflector 10, a generally rectangular convex lens II spaced axially from the reflector l and having its principal axis lying on the principal axis of the reflector l0, and a mask l2 extending perpendicularly with respect to the principal axis of the reflector l0. Mounted within reflector in an inner focal plane thereof is a tungsten filament 14 which extends perpendicularly with respect to the principal axis of reflector I0 and which has an axis lying at an angle to a horizontal plane in which the reflector principal axis lies. The angle, designated a in FIG. 2 may be between and 45 but, in this embodiment, is

The mask 12 has an upper edge 15 which is disposed just below the principal axis of the reflector 10.

In use, the light pattern emanating from filament 14 and reflector 10 is modified by the mask I2 before passing through lens 11 in such a manner that an upper portion of the light pattern which would otherwise emerge from lens I] is cut off. The provision of the mask [2 enables the lamp assembly to be used as a socalled dipped headlamp on a vehicle. The angling of the filament 14 relative to the principal axis of reflector 10 in the manner described above enables the image of the filament projected by the lamp assembly to be aimed along a roadside curb which the lamp assembly is fitted to a motor vehicle. Aiming of the filament in this manner is considered to improve the visibility of the curb at least as far as the driver of the vehicle is concerned.

The lamp assembly described in the present application is particularly suitable for use with the curved reflector described in our co-pending British patent application No. 25248/73 dated May 25, I973.

By the expression horizontal plane as used herein with respect to the positioning of the filament relative to the reflector is meant the positioning of the filament when the reflector is in an orientation corresponding to that in which it is designed to be used.

We claim:

I. A vehicle lamp assembly comprising a dished reflector which is at least partially ellipsoidal in shape and has an inner focal plane and an optical axis. and an electric filament disposed in said dished reflector at said inner focal plane thereof, said electric filament having an axis which extends transversely with respect to a horizontal plane containing the optical axis of the reflector. said filament being inclined at an angle of 30 to inclusive with respect to said horizontal plane.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said filament extends in a plane perpendicular to said optical axis.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim I, further including optical projection means arranged to receive and optically modify the pattern of light issuing from the dished reflector.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising a mask in front of the reflector to modify the pattern of light issuing. in use, from the reflector. 

1. A vehicle lamp assembly comprising a dished reflector which is at least partially ellipsoidal in shape and has an inner focal plane and an optical axis, and an electric filament disposed in said dished reflector at said inner focal plane thereof, said electric filament having an axis which extends transversely with respect to a horizontal plane containing the optical axis of the reflector, said filament being inclined at an angle of 30* to 45* inclusive with respect to said horizontal plane.
 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said filament extends in a plane perpendicular to said optical axis.
 3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, further including optical projection means arranged to receive and optically modify the pattern of light issuing from the dished reflector.
 4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising a mask in front of the reflector to modify the pattern of light issuing, in use, from the reflector. 